If the Orioles are set on keeping Brian Roberts, rather than trading him, the All-Star second baseman is making a good statement for a contract extension.
The product of offseason trade talks, Roberts caught fire this month, hitting in 18-of-19 games and surpassing 20 steals for the sixth consecutive year. Roberts is batting .345 (29-for-84) in June, helping raise his average from .262 to a team-leading .290. The trade deadline is still a month away, but Roberts is both helping the Orioles and his trade value with his recent success.
Roberts was rumored to be heading to the Cubs on a handful of occasions this winter, and speculation about those talks re-opening began after Cubs left fielder and leadoff man Alfonso Soriano broke a bone in his hand. All signs indicate the NL Central-leading Cubs will stick with their current club.
The Orioles have some decisions to make with Roberts, who is just three hits shy of 1,000 for his career. They can extend his contract, which expires after the 2009 season, and make him a focal point in the rebuilding process. Or, president Andy MacPhail can trade the switch-hitter for multiple prospects, like he did with shortstop Miguel Tejada and left-handed pitcher Erik Bedard. Those trades have worked out tremendously for the Orioles.
Whatever MacPhail opts to do with Roberts, it seems as if he can do no wrong.
BREWERS 7, ORIOLES 3: Prince Fielder kept the Orioles' Sunday woes alive with a huge day. The Brewers first baseman was 3-for-4 with two big home runs and a double to hand the Orioles their tenth straight loss in a Sunday game.
